Port Vale manager Neil Aspin says Adam Yates has suffered one of the worst injuries he has seen on a football pitch after the experienced defender was smashed by a collision with keeper Sam Hornby in Tuesday’s reserve game.

Yates has suffered a fractured nose, cheekbones and eye sockets as well as a broken upper jaw and wrist.

He was kept in hospital overnight on Tuesday before being allowed home on Wednesday evening.

The 34 year old, who is Vale’s longest serving player, was injured in the early stages of the reserve match against Morecambe on the Bycars training pitches.

Aspin said: “Everybody’s thoughts are with him at the moment because he suffered an horrendous injury in the reserve game. I have never seen, on a football pitch, someone get the extent of the injuries he has got.

Port Vale defender Adam Yates

“It is really bad luck for him and we are all disappointed because we know what sort of lad and character he is. It is a real shame for him, you don’t want to see that happen. We hope he can make a full recovery and get all his injuries seen to and has no affect from that.

“The main thing is he gets everything done properly and he gets the best treatment he can.

"I am thinking of it more from his point of view rather than mine or the team’s. It is just a real shame for him.”